Prediction of Settlement in Natural Deposited Clay Ground with Risk of Large Residual Settlement Due to Embankment Loading

This study endeavors to predict the settlement that could occur in the future at a site where settlement due to embankment loading is already occurring at present. In the site studied here, large residual settlement of as much as 70 cm has already occurred in the 4 years since it entered into service. It is believed that settlement will also continue in the future because excess pore pressure is still present within the clay layers. Furthermore, according to the method of evaluation proposed previously by the authors, which is based on the sensitivity and compression index ratios, it can be judged that the ground includes clays that are sensitive to disturbance and have a strong possibility of large residual settlement. In this paper, simulation of the settlement observed up to now at the site as well as prediction of the settlement that could occur in the future was carried out by deducing the higher compressibilities possessed by the in-situ clays compared with the undisturbed clay specimens in the laboratory. The soil-water coupled finite deformation analysis was employed using the analysis program GEOASIA, in which the constitutive equation for the soil skeleton is mounted with the SYS Cam-clay model. In addition, the effect of modifying the vertical section of the embankment by overlaying in order to counter the settlement was also investigated by numerical analysis. The results showed that such a countermeasure cannot be expected to lead to faster consolidation and that it may require massive funding over a long period of time to cover the maintenance and management costs involved.     

浙江近海软黏土次固结系数研究及应用

我国室内固结试验中把次固结沉降曲线作为线性处理,然而,大量的实验数据证明,测定周期的不同次固结曲线呈非线性特征,故次固结系数为变数。通过我国近海典型海相软黏土——浙江平阳港次固结试验为验证实例,提出一种适用于工程的分级加载、延时校正及保持试样结构原状的土工快速测试法。对工程中试验曲线分析及研究表明:我国近海区域软黏土次固结系数与固结压力、压缩指数以及测试时间存在着一定的相关性,次固结系数与固结压力变化呈先增、后降、趋稳的现象,次固结系数峰值与土体深度等有关,C_a/C_c比值为常数。实验中所得到的经验值可作为邻近工程固结沉降量预估,所创方法为填补国家标准规范次固结试验的空白提供有益参考。     

STRENGTH AND CONSOLIDATION PROPERTIES OF BUSAN NEW PORT CLAYS

The sedimentary environment and the effects of sample disturbance on strength and consolidation properties of Busan New Port clays are examined through microfossils and radiocarbon age analyses and unconfined compression, K₀-consolidated undrained triaxial compression and extension tests and consolidation tests. In this study, only one or two samples, 74 mm in diameter and 100 mm in height, obtained from different depths, are used for the whole series of tests to provide small-sized specimens. The sedimentation rates of Busan New Port clays were (3.7-7.8) mm/year and higher than those for the coastal areas of the USA, Thailand and Japan. The in-situ undrained shear strength and consolidation parameters were estimated using Shogaki's method and compared with those of other test results and evaluated. Busan New Port clays are lightly overconsolidated clays. It can be seen that the consolidation settlements, which were greater than those estimated, were observed in Holocene Busan clay, are caused by the underestimation of the compression index and coefficient of consolidation values caused by sample disturbance.     

Comparison of Mechanical Behavior of Two Overconsolidated Clays: Yamashita and Louiseville Clays

A site investigation program was carried out at the Yamashita site, Yokohama, Japan, by means of laboratory as well as field tests. It was found from the investigation that the clayey layer is overconsolidated with an OCR of about 2.0. It is evident from geological consideration that this overconsolidation may not have been caused by stress change, but was probably due to structure effects such as cementation or delayed consolidation. The physical and mechanical properties of the Yamashita clay is compared with those of Louiseville clay, a Champlain Sea Clay widely distributed in Quebec, eastern Canada, and a well known cemented clay. Louiseville clay was retrieved by Japanese sampler and transported to the Port and Harbour Research Institute (PHRI) for laboratory investigation. Comparison of the two clays shows that strength properties such as the stress-strain curve or stress path for both clays are very similar to each other. However, the pattern of the e-log p curve measured by Constant Rate of Strain oedometer, particularly beyond the yield consolidation pressure, is remarkably different between the two clays.     

灵敏性粉土的压缩及触变特性研究

山西汾河一级阶地的饱和粉土大多具有灵敏性,使得其强度和变形性质在扰动前后差别很大.为了研究灵敏性粉土的压缩及触变特性,对探井取样的原状土和重塑土样进行了一维固结压缩试验和无侧限抗压强度试验.试验结果表明,原状土加载到结构屈服应力处,沉降量突增,固结系数突增,主固结比突降,次固结对沉降的贡献开始上升;原状土与重塑土的差异...     

Performance of Band Shaped Vertical Drain for Soft Hai Phong Clay

Performance of band shaped prefabricated vertical drain (PVD) installed into soft Hai Phong clay with a 110 cm triangle arrangement is reported together with the engineering properties of the clay investigated by field and laboratory tests. Stationary piston sampling was carried out to obtain high quality undisturbed soil samples for laboratory tests and reliable engineering characteristics of the clay. It was assumed for the design of PVD spacing and preloading that the ratio of apparent value of horizontal coefficient of consolidation c_h(ap) to vertical coefficient of consolidation c_v is equal to 1.0. The settlement monitored in the field, which clearly showed that the actual settlement was faster than expected, resulted in the c_h(ap) value 1.5 times as much as c_v determined by the laboratory test.     

Long-term consolidation behavior interpreted with isotache concept for worldwide clays

The consolidation characteristics interpreted with the isotache concept have been studied by many researchers, including the authors. The aim of most of these studies has been to calculate secondary consolidation with high accuracy in order to evaluate the long-term settlement of large-scale structures. In a previous study, the long-term consolidation characteristics of Osaka Bay clay, collected from the construction site of the Kansai International Airport, were examined, and a simplified method based on the isotache concept, using a compression curve and the relationship between the consolidation yield stress (preconsolidation pressure) and the strain rate, was proposed. The former and the latter were obtained from constant rate of strain consolidation (CRS) tests and long-term consolidation (LT) tests, respectively. The latter is expressed by an equation with three isotache parameters. In addition, it is noteworthy that the isotache parameters can be commonly determined for the Osaka Bay clays retrieved from various depths up to 300 m below the seabed. In the present study, the proposed method was applied to worldwide clays with various characteristics using the common values for the isotache parameters determined for the Osaka Bay clays. It was found that the long-term consolidation behavior of those worldwide clays can be well characterized by the proposed method, along with the common values for the isotache parameters.     

推算最终沉降中工后次固结沉降比例研究

为了更准确地预测工后沉降,利用室内常规压缩试验、长期压缩试验和现场试验研究了三点法、双曲线法、星野法等最终沉降推算方法推算的黏性土地基最终沉降与工后次固结沉降的关系。研究表明,采用三点法推算的黏性土地基最终沉降包含的工后次固结沉降较少,采用双曲线法推算的黏性土地基最终沉降包括约23%～52%的工后次固结沉降,采用星野法推算的黏性土地基最终沉降基本包含了绝大部分工后次固结沉降。故建议采用三点法和双曲线法推算黏性土地基最终沉降并预测工后沉降时还应考虑工后次固结沉降。     

Strain Rate Effect on Long-Term Consolidation of Osaka Bay Clay

The consolidation characteristics of clay, based on the isotache concept in which the strain rate effect is considered, have been studied by many researchers. Most of these studies are aimed at calculating the secondary consolidation with high accuracy in order to evaluate the long-term settlement of large structures. In this study, as the first step toward improving the accuracy of the evaluation of long-term settlement at the Kansai International Airport, the consolidation characteristics of Osaka Bay clay are examined and organized based on the isotache concept. This study proposes a simplified model based on the isotache concept by using a compression curve and the relationship between the consolidation yield stress and the strain rate. The former and the latter are obtained from the constant rate of strain consolidation (CRS) tests and long term consolidation (LT) tests, respectively. The latter is expressed by an equation with three isotache parameters. This model is very practical because it requires a minimum of only one CRS test and one LT test. It is widely applicable to the Osaka Bay clay. The isotache parameters used in this model can be commonly determined for the Osaka Bay clays retrieved from various depths at the Kansai International Airport.     

Ageing Effects on Consolidation Properties—Based on the Site Investigation of Osaka Pleistocene Clays—

Soil samples were recovered from the Osaka basin, where Holocene as well as Pleistocene marine clays are thickly deposited. It is found from X-ray diffraction analysis that the component of clay minerals for these day layers is almost identical through all depths. 'This fact suggests that the origin of these sediments has not been drastically changed through at least more than 1,000,000 years. Using data obtained by oedometer tests, this paper examines ageing effects on consolidation properties. It is found that void ratio for the Pleistocene clays keeps large even under high in situ effective overburden pressure (p_vo′). Salinity of pore fluid decreases with depth and becomes nearly zero at depths deeper than 70 m. However, the change in salinity does not give any influences on the index properties, suggesting that the relatively large void ratio for the Pleistocene clays is caused by other reasons than leaching. It is also found that the Pleistocene clays reveal no particular differences in consolidation properties, but fundamentally similar to those of Holocene clays'. There is no distinguished difference in the overconsolidation ratio (OCR), non-linearity of the e-log p' relation after yield consolidation pressure including the maximum compression index (C_cmax) and the hydraulic conductivity (k). The only prominent difference in the Osaka Pleistocene clays, compared to the Holocene clay, is relatively small void ratio due to the large p_vo′.     

软土变形时效特性的试验研究

软土变形的重要特征为具有时效性,这将导致软土工程的工后沉降。根据实际工程需要,采用原状土样和扰动土样对软土变形机理进行了一系列室内试验,包括软土的应力–应变特性、固结效应、次固结特性、蠕变特性等。通过试验成果系统分析可得:(1)初始固结度对应力–应变关系的影响;(2)次固结系数与固结压力的关系以及应力历史对次固结系数的影响;(3)次固结系数与压缩指数的关系;(4)排水蠕变和不排水蠕变的变形特征;(5)蠕变变形的影响因素和降低蠕变效应的技术路径等。研究结果表明:软土变形的时效性产生于固结特性和蠕变特性的耦合效应,土体的变形过程实际是固结和蠕变共同作用的过程,任一时刻两种变形在总变形中所占比例取决于多种因素,其中最重要的是应力水平和排水条件。     

新旧软粘土路基原位固结压缩特性数值分析

针对新旧软粘土路基固结压缩沉降变形的特点,通过对试验路段新旧路地基进行钻探取样和原位试验及室内物理力学试验,通过土体固结压缩试验求取土体的压缩系数和先期固结压力,用以判断土的压缩性和计算路基沉降。基于卡萨格兰德法,用多项式拟合e-lgp曲线,分析比较后确定曲线的拟合数学模型,然后根据先期固结压力的数值分析,应用Matlab软件实现其数值求解,反演新旧路基软粘土路基原状土固结现状。     

Estimation of In-Situ Undrained Strength of Soft Soil Deposits by use of Unconfined Compression Test with Suction Measurement

Unconfined compression tests have been widely used in Japan for the purpose of determining undrained strengths of clay samples, but the unconfined compressive strengths are usually scattered even if specimens tested seem to have been subjected to the same stress history. This is due to the characteristic of the test itself, which is performed under unstable confining stress given by capillary pressure of the sample itself. In order to make clear the cause of scattering of measured strengths, three series of tests simulating the process from sampling to unconfined and triaxial compression tests on saturated soil samples are performed with three remolded and three undisturbed clays together with an undisturbed peat, and the influence of stress release and mechanical disturbance of the test specimen on the undrained strength is examined. Based on the test results, a practical method for estimating the in-situ undrained strength of soft soils from the results of a routine unconfined compression (UC) test together with suction measurement is proposed. From comparisons of the undrained strength profiles estimated by the proposed method with the strength profiles obtained by in-situ sounding test, it is found that the strength obtained by UC test can be reasonably corrected to estimate the in-situ undrained strength of soft soil deposits.     

Geotechnical Hybrid Simulation System for One-Dimensional Consolidation Analysis

A system for a hybrid consolidation simulation was developed to predict more realistically the nonlinear behavior of the consolidation settlement of soft clay, including a large strain consolidation problem. The hybrid simulation method can introduce the mechanical behavior of the soils directly by combining numerical analysis and the soil element test in an online state. In this paper, a fundamental study to apply the hybrid simulation method to the consolidation settlement problem, a basic concept, and the corresponding algorithm and components are presented. Furthermore, using preconsolidated Kaolinite clays, verification studies were also conducted in the laboratory to verify the operational performance and data reliability of the system. On the basis of the test results, we concluded that the new consolidation analysis system using the hybrid simulation concept provided an adequate performance in the reproduction of the consolidation behavior of preconsolidated Kaolinite clays in the aspect of the dissipation of excess pore water pressure and corresponding consolidation settlement.     

贵阳红黏土的应力-应变软化模型及参数研究

通过对不同含水量和不同围压下的贵阳红黏土进行三轴固结不排水试验,系统地研究了贵阳红黏土的软化特性及孔隙水压力的变化规律。试验结果表明:贵阳红黏土破坏形态具有明显的剪切带;应力-应变曲线出现了带有驼峰的应变软化现象,固结过程中孔隙水压力与时间呈指数函数关系,剪切过程中孔隙水压力与轴向应变呈双曲线型。研究认为,土体的结构屈服应力和固结不排水试验中产生的孔隙水压力是造成贵阳红黏土软化的主要因素。根据沈珠江、张尔齐等人的软化模型,对贵阳红黏土进行拟合,求解模型参数及置信区间,为贵阳红黏土进一步的数学模型建立提供理论基础。     

Unconsolidated clays from the inner shore of the Gemlik Gulf in the Marmara Sea (Bursa-Turkey)

The consolidation properties of clay samples from a marine environment were examined. Index, triaxial and odeometer tests were performed on the undisturbed/disturbed clay samples from 13 boreholes in the Gemlik Gulf (Bursa-Turkey). Laboratory tests indicated that the clays are soft and have a high moisture content and hence are highly compressible. The majority of the clays are unconsolidated due to the accretion rate being faster than the dissipation of pore water.     

太湖湖沼相天然沉积土结构性评价

天然沉积土由于结构性的影响,通常具有与相应重塑样截然不同的力学性质。利用重塑土的固有特性作为评价参考基准,通过对太湖湖沼相典型沉积土的原状样和重塑样的固结压缩试验,从压缩特性方面探讨了如何评价土结构性对天然沉积土力学性状的影响。试验结果表明:土体结构性使天然土体具有的结构屈服应力对其变形性状起控制作用,屈服应力比YSR可判断土结构性的强弱;并与度量原位状态土体结构性抗力的应力灵敏度Sσ、衡量土的结构性对变形影响的稳定指数SI结合起来,作为定量分析和评价土结构性影响的指标;评价指标揭示出太湖湖沼相天然沉积土在沉积过程以及沉积后受到土结构性的影响,具有高位结构性。同时试验结果验证了该评价方法能够适合具有不同结构形式的天然状态土体。     

Formulation of Gmax from Reconstituted Clayey Soils and its Application to Gmax Measured in the Field

The elastic shear modulus of natural sedimentary clay ground, G_max, is estimated based on laboratory tests for fifteen different reconstituted clays. Two types of tests were performed, i.e., Bender Element and Cyclic Triaxial tests. The proposed formulation is not based on void ratio, e, but consists of only three parameters: w_L (liquid limit), p′ (the current mean effective stress) and p′_max (the maximum mean consolidation pressure). To apply it to the field, this equation is modified for using σ′_v0 (the in situ effective overburden pressure) and OCR, instead of p′ and p′_max. Since existing formulae for G_max are mostly based on e, they are not able to apply to both reconstituted soil and field, without considering the correction factor for structure. This is because e in the field is much larger than that for reconstituted soil even though their consolidation pressures and OCR are the same for these clays. The applicability of the proposed formula was examined by using investigated results from the in-situ seismic surveys performed at eleven worldwide sites. It is well demonstrated that the proposed equation in this paper is capable of predicting G_max of natural sedimentary clay deposits with higher accuracy than the existing empirical formulae using a function of e.     

软土蠕变特性试验研究

针对广州南沙原状软土进行了一系列室内试验研究,包括三轴压缩试验、三轴蠕变试验和一维固结试验,系统地探讨了软土的蠕变变形特性。结果表明:软土的蠕变特性与多种因素有关,包括土体的初始固结度、土层排水条件、加荷比等;次固结系数与固结压力的关系取决于土体的先期固结压力和试验中的加荷比。